Minardi PS03
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| Category | Formula One | ||||||||
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| Constructor | Minardi | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Gabriele Tredozi | ||||||||
| Technical Specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon-fibre monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double Wishbone pushrod activated torsion bars | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Pushrod activated torsion bars | ||||||||
| Engine | European V10 (72°) naturally aspirated | ||||||||
| Transmission | Minardi 6-speed longitudinal semi-automatic sequential | ||||||||
| Fuel | Elf | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition History | |||||||||
| Notable entrants | European Minardi F1 | ||||||||
| Notable drivers | 18.  Justin Wilson18.  Nicolas Kiesa19.  Jos Verstappen |
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| Debut | 2003 Australian Grand Prix | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Minardi PS03 is a Formula One car used by the Minardi team during the 2003 Formula One season.
The PS03 was the third Minardi car to be created under the influence of Paul Stoddart and he wanted it to be a regular point scorer. Justin Wilson and Jos Verstappen were the drivers, with Nicolas Kiesa as the test driver. The highlight of the season for the team was Verstappen's fastest time on Friday at Magny Cours, however this was only because it rained. Surprisingly, even though the team had many retirements; Wilson only finishing 2 of his first 8 races, the Cosworth engines were reliable, they never caused the driver to retire. What caused Wilson to retire these 6 times was; 3 holed radiators, physical issues and a recurring refuelling glitch.
One of the main problems Minardi always had with the car was the lack of wind-tunnel testing, only managing 12 days in the Fondmetal windtunnel.
[edit] Pre-Season Issues
At first the team appeared to have no sponsors, engines or tyres. Michelin had pulled out of the team leaving Minardi to run some pre-season tests on Avon tyres. Asiatech engines were gone, as was the previous year's sponsorship from Kuala Lumpur. This left Minardi in some serious problems. Eventually Bridgestone agreed to make the tyres, and with the help of new driver Jos Verstappen they managed to get sponsorship from Trust. European Aviation, (Stoddart's own company) put up sponsorship as did various other small companies for small sums of money, including Gazprom, who reportedly did not pay. Minardi also managed to get Cosworth engines, old 72 degree V10's, un-tuned and similar to those being used in the Jordan of that season but these were slightly longer. There was initially no title sponsor until the Dutch company Trust joined the team for the 2003 Monaco Grand Prix.
[edit] Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Minardi | European V10 | B | AUS | MAL | BRA | SMR | ESP | AUT | MON | CAN | EUR | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | ITA | USA | JPN | 0 | NC | |
| Justin Wilson | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 13 | 14 | 16 | |||||||||||
| Nicolas Kiesa | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
| Jos Verstappen | 11 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 14 | 16 | 15 | Ret | 12 | Ret | 11 | 15 |
[edit] References
- Henry, Alan (ed.) (2003). AUTOCOURSE 2003-2004. Hazleton Publishing Ltd., pp. 80-81. ISBN 1-903135-20-6.
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